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How To

How to Do Shiatsu Massage

Contributor
By Barb Nefer
eHow Contributing Writer
(2 Ratings)
Do Shiatsu Massage
Do Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu is a specific style of Japanese massage that involves using the fingers to massage, push and apply pressure to various parts of the body. While there are different methods, depending on the area you are massaging, there are some common techniques. In the following steps, they will be performed on the feet, but they can be adapted to other areas of the body.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Shiatsu stick or pen (optional)
  1. Step 1

    Massage the sole of the foot by pushing against it with the fingertip part of the thumb and forefinger of one hand. Slowly increase the pressure. If the person you are massaging has particularly rough or hardened skin on the bottoms of their feet, you can use a special tool called a shiatsu stick. If you don't have one, simply substitute a pen.

  2. Step 2

    Continue to massage the sole, this time using the thumb and pushing it down with another finger. You can push the thumb back and forth against the sole with the other finger.

  3. Step 3

    Switch to using the thumb joint to massage the foot's sole by bending it 90 degrees. You can go beyond the sole to use the thumb joint on the entire bottom of the foot.

  4. Step 4

    Return to the sole of the foot, and make a fist so you can use your other finger joints together to massage it. This will allow you to cover a wider area and apply greater pressure than with a finger alone.

  5. Step 5

    Finish the massage by rubbing the sole and the rest of the foot with the fingertip of your thumb. While the previous parts of the massage concentrated on pushing and applying pressure, this part uses a more traditional rubbing/massage motion to complete the massage.

Tips & Warnings
  • Although you can do a simple shiatsu massage at home, if you want to get a professional shiatsu massage, make sure you choose a properly trained practitioner. You can find qualified professionals through the Shiatsu Society's database.

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